GAINESVILLE, Fla. – According to coaches and teammates, Gators junior pass-rush specialist Ronald Powell was a man on a mission this spring, turning into one of the Gators' most productive players.
Powell's mission now is to get healthy and return to the field following a knee injury in Saturday's Orange & Blue Debut spring game. Powell suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the first half and did not return.
Florida coach Will Muschamp held out hope that the injury was nothing more than a sprain, but an MRI revealed a torn ACL that is expected to sideline Powell for four to six months.
"Ronald is in good spirits and is very eager to do whatever is necessary to have a healthy, speedy recovery," Muschamp said Monday. "He has already started with prehab and once the swelling goes down and he regains his range of motion, he will have the surgery."
Powell started all but one game a year ago and finished with 32 tackles and a team-leading six sacks and nine tackles for loss. A 6-foot-4, 248-pounder from Moreno Valley, Calif., Powell ended spring camp in the best shape of his career according to defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, which could help in his recovery.
"Powell is on a mission," Quinn said prior to Saturday's game. "He is playing faster, just like you want an outside rusher to play. I'm encouraged about where he's headed."
